The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has successfully commissioned generating units No. 5 and 6 of the Mangla Hydel Power Station with the financial support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The installed generation capacity of each unit has increased to 135 megawatt from 100 megawatt with cumulative increase of 70 megawatt from 200 to 270 megawatt.
USAID Mission Director Julie A. Koenen accompanied by her team witnessed commissioning of the two units during her visit to Mangla Hydel Power Station. She also unveiled a plaque to mark commissioning of the refurbished Units No. 5 and 6.
To work on aging factor of the generating equipment and availability of additional water due to the raised Mangla Dam, WAPDA is implementing Mangla Refurbishment Project with an approved PC-I cost of Rs 52.224 billion. USAID is providing US$150 million as grant, while balance is being arranged by WAPDA through loans and from its own resources for the purpose. Mangla Refurbishment Project, on its completion, will enhance generation capacity of the existing Mangla Hydel Power Station from 1000 MW to 1310 MW, thus registering an increase of 310 MW. The refurbishment works have been divided into 11 different packages, which are being implemented in various phases, by closing down one tunnel (two generating units) at a time. The average annual generation of Mangla Hydel Power Station will also increase from 5 billion units to 6.5 billion units
